In the
novel “1984” we get to London, a totalitarian capital lead by one party that oppresses
the citizens and do not really provides them with cloths, or enough food.
Besides the information given to the people is not the truth: they can see
there’s a sort of war going on, but nobody know anything about it; there are
loads of posters with “Big Brother’s face”, the leader fo the party but that
nobody knows; the history has been changed by the government in order to make
the citizens believe what the government wants.
In terms of
freedom, Londoners in the novel are obliged to watch the Government’s tv
programme and they are not allowed to turn the tv off because they are
constantly being observed. What’s more, they do not even have time to think
about what is going on.
Like in the
graphic novel “V for Vendetta”, 1984’s main character has revolutionary intentions
and thoughts, which are eventually penalised by the totalitarian government
through the use of torture.
Unlike the
endless revolutionary spirit present in V that do not die and that will keep
present in future times, the revolution that Winston Smith feels is killed by
the government and he becomes one of the thousands of citizens that do not have
time to think again, so much so that he becomes part of the system again,
showing us that the means that our “leaders” would use in case of a revolution
in the present times are likely to work and to be used no matter what it
implies.
Leaders
what people to believe what they say, and it looks like we are starting to
believe it.
References:
*Orwell, George. 1984. Editions Underbahn Ltd., 2006.
*Moore, Alan. V for Vendetta. Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2006.
Maybe, we want to believe it... Maybe we are used to it... or perhaps is comfortable for us to accept all the things that we consider abusive, just because we are afraid of the possible consequences. It is not only about revolution, is about dignity, is about dignifying ourselves as human being, and to take action, moving from our passive position. I believe that is what V for Vendetta is proposing, not just about anarchy and chaos, but to realize that we are being told lies, and we are accepting them without response. Some say that people get the leaders they deserve... I sincerely hope not.
ResponderEliminar